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The Democratic Alliance (DA) in Gauteng will submit a Promotion of Access to Information (PAIA) application for the Gauteng Department of Social Development (GDSD) to fully disclose the adjudication report for Non-profit organisations (NPOs) in the province.

This follows numerous unsuccessful attempts to elicit responses from former GDSD MEC Mbali Hlophe and current MEC Faith Mazibuko regarding the report on the NPO adjudication process. Specifically, both MECs have not responded to written questions tabled in the Gauteng Provincial Legislature (GPL), leaving the DA with no alternative but to file a PAIA request for the adjudication information.

It is essential for NPOs and those they serve to know how the adjudication process was conducted and what its outcomes were. Information on all the NPOs that applied for funding in November 2023 and the panellists who oversaw the process is included in the report.

Although the department promised to release the report after the adjudication process was completed, it has not yet done so.

It is unacceptable that many NPOs have signed Service Level Agreements (SLAs) but have not yet received funding. Moreover, some NPOs without signed SLAs have allegedly received funding, while others report receiving more than they applied for. To make matters worse, some NPOs have not received any feedback from the department about their eligibility and funding status.

The DA reiterates its demand for the department to release the adjudication report without further delay. In addition to submitting the PAIA application, the DA is filing a petition to compel the department to release the NPO adjudication report.

Please find the link to sign the petition here.

A transparent DA government will prioritise rebuilding trust with NPOs by ensuring they all timeously receive communication on the outcome of their funding applications. This will be done by sharing the adjudication report on the GDSD website and other available platforms. The information will, amongst others, assist unsuccessful NPOs in understanding why they did not qualify, enabling them to improve in the next round of applications. The next step for the DA will be to ensure that comprehensive SLAs are signed, clearly stating the specific purposes for which the NPOs are being funded. Subsequently, the DA will ensure that funding is disbursed promptly to minimise any disruption of services to the beneficiaries of NPOs.

The DA is committed to using all available avenues in the Gauteng Provincial Legislature (GPL) and externally to ensure that the department releases the report to the public. This department must maintain transparency and act in the best interests of the vulnerable Gauteng residents it is mandated to serve.

Issued by Refiloe Nt’sekhe MPL - DA Gauteng Shadow MEC for Social Development